Alternating current clock



May 7, 1935. w. J. VAN OSDEL manmxue cuanm CLOCK Filed July 21, 1931 3Sheets-Sheet 1 for Jazz/J,

Ill |||l||| lllllllb May 7, 1935. w. J. VAN OSDEL ALTERNATING CURRENTCLOCK Filed July 21, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 7, 1935. w. J. VAN OSDEL2,000,307

ALTERNATING CURRENT CLOCK Filed July 21, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet Osa'cZ PMMay 7, 1935 PATENT OFFICE sursamrmc coansmcnoox William J. Van Osdel,cum. 111. Application July 21,1981, Serial No. 552,230

This invention relates in general to electric clocks and is moreparticularly adapted to be actuated directly by the existing commercialalternating current systems, whereby the usual I lishtingsystem. andpower currents, may be emplayed-ior actuatingthe clock to indicate thecorrect time, which is regulated irom a station gbthealternating currentsystem, and one oi objects oi the invention is to provide. animprovedsynchronousmotorclockoithischarac ter having associatedtherewith a pendulum, and a ticking mechanism, thereby providing anaudible signal in the clock. a

A further object is to provide in aclock oi this character an improvedgear train whereby the number oiparts will be reduced and the mechanismgreatly simplified.

A further object is to provide improved means ior supporting the clockmovement whereby the entire movement may be readily detached from thesupport and removed irom the clock case as a unitary structure, and. asreadily replaced into operative position. a a I A further object is toprovide an improved iornl oi magnet core so shaped as to cause the motorarmature or rotor to run in a predetermined position with respect to thecore. and an improved manner oi mounting the core, whereby the magnetcore will be clamped between and secured to both oi the frames oi theclock movement, thereby reducing any hum in the operation oi themechanism; as vibration oi any free parts will be obviated. I g

A iurther obiect isto Provide eans whe eb the motor mechanism may bestarted through the clock dial.

To the attainment oi these ends and the accomplishment oi other new anduseiul objects as will appear, the invention consists in the i eaturesoi novelty in. substantially the construction, combination andarrangement-oi the several, parts hereinafter more iully described andandarranged according tothe principlesoi thisinvention. a

Figure 2 is a leit hand end elevation oi Figure l, with parts omitted.

Flgureaisadetailsectionalviewtakenon line 8-4, Figure 2.

s Claims. (c 68-26) l 'igureiisadetailsectlonalviewtakenonline 4-4,Figure 2, with parts omitted.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on'line l-l,

Figurefiisadetailsectionalviewonaneng larged scale, showing the manneroi securing the balance spring and the manner oi iournaling or amounting one of the ends oi the shait oi the rotor.

.Figurefi' isaseetlonalviewtakenonlinelq, Figure 6.

Figure'lisadetailperspectiveviewoithe pendulum and a supporting meansior the clock movement. 1

Figure 8 is a detail perspective view oi the clock movement detachedfrom its support.

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the manner oiconnecting the supporting cushions ior the clock movement to thesupports.

Figure 10 is a detailed elevation, with parts so omitted. of a modifiediorm oi the invention.

The clock mechanism or movement is iormed as a unitary structure andconsists tially oi iront and rear plates |B--il secured together inspaced relation in any desired or suitable manner, such as by means oibars or rods II and between which plates the clock movement is arranged.The rear plate it is provided with openings ll therethorugh adjacent oneend thereoi which have communication with slots II, and in the loweredge oi the plate II are arranged recesses 20 opening thorugh the edgeoi the plate, ior purposes to be hereinaiter set iorth.

Arranged between the plates II and It is a magnet 2| about which a coil22 is wrapped and as the coil is supplied with a current irom anyslutsble source, such as the line supply. The magnet ii is preferablyiormed oi two legs, and the coil is wrapped about one oi the legs, aportion oi the leg projecting above the coil and one portion 20 oi theend oi the magnet is elevated or arranged at a higher elevation than theremaining portion 24 oi the magnet, ior a purpose to be set iorth.

The magnet poles are firmly secured in position by being clamped betweenthe plates II and it through the medium oi spacer members 28, andthrough which spacer members and the plates lB-IB, as well as throughthe pole piece, iastening members pass. with this arrangement it will bemaniiest that thepartswill be ilrmly secured against vibration andthereby the productionoi a hum in the operation oi the mechanism will beavoided.

A rotatable member 21 is arranged to operate adjacenttheraisedportionlioithepolepiecell I6 and by reason of the raised portion, thisrotatable part will be always maintained centrally with respect to theend of the pole.

The rotatable member 21 is mounted upon a shaft 28, being, joumaled insuitable bearings 29-38, and over each of which bearings a cap 3| isthreaded so as to form lubrication spaces into which the ends of theshaft 28 project. Disposed within the cap 3| is a washer 32 of adiameter slightly greater than the internal diameter of the cap so thatwhen the washer is placed within the cap the peripheral edge 33 thereofwill be turned upwardly and this edge 33 is provided with notches orrecesses 34 so as to permit the washer to be bent over at its periphery,and also prevent the periphery from puckering. The washer is held inposition in any suitable manner, preferably by means of a split springring 35. The washer is provided with an aperture therethrough at itsdiametric center, and portions of the washer adjacent the aperture aresplit as at 38 so that when the end of the shaft 28 is inserted into theopening the portions of the washer encompassing the opening will bedeflected as at 31 to form a feeding wick for the lubricant.

An inertia member 38 is mounted loosely upon the shaft 28 in proximityto the rotor 21, the former being held in position preferably by beingmounted upon a collar 38 which loosely encompasses the shaft 28. A can48 is sleeved upon and secured to the shaft 28 and extends over thecollar 39 and is of an internal diameter considerably greater than theexternal diameter of the collar, the collar 89 terminating short of thebottom of the cap.

A coil spring 41 encompasses the hub 38, and as the hub terminates shortof the closed end of the cap, some of the coils 4| will be disposedbeyond the hub 89. One end of the spring 4| is anchored as at 42 t theinertia member 38, and the other end 43 of the spring is secured to thecap 48 by being inserted into a slot 44 in the cap.

It will therefore be manifest that during the oscillatory movements ofthe inertia member 38 about the shaft 28, the spring 48 will be firsteontracted and then expanded and by reason of the fact that a portion ofthe spring 4| encompasses the hub 39, it will be manifest that thespring when it is under tension or otherwise will not be capable ofbeing deflected laterally, which latter would tend to impair theeffectiveness of the spring.

Connected with the shaft 28 is a gear pinion 45 which meshes with a gear48, the teeth of which latter gear are beveled as at 41, so that theteeth will gradually be brought into mesh during the rotation of thegears and thereby reduce to a minimum the noise caused by the teeth ofthe two gears coming into contact.

The gear 48 is mounted upon a shaft 48 journaled in suitable bearings 49in the frame members i -I 8, and carried by the shaft 48 is a worm 58which meshes with a worm gear 51 secured to a vertical drive shaft 52.The shaft 52 is mounted in bearings 53 secured to the plate of themovement, and one extremity of each of the bearings is deflected as at54 to project into slots 55 in the frame member I5, the bearings 53being secured in position against adjustment by means of fasteningscrews 58.

Connected with the vertical drive shaft 52 is a worm 51 which mesheswith a gear 58 secured to the shaft 58, and to which latter shaft theminute hand 88 is connected. By reason of the slots 55, it will bemanifest that the bearings 53 may be adjusted in directions to cause thevertical shaft 52 and the worm 51 thereon to be moved toward or awayfrom the shaft 58 and with respect to the gear 58 for adjustmentpurposes, after which the screws 58 may be tightened so that the partswill be held against further movement.

The minute hand 88 moves over a dial 8| and connected to the shaft 58 isa gear 82 which meshes with a gear 83 rotatable upon a journal 64.Connected with the gear 83 is a pinion gear 85 which meshes with a gear85 carried by a sleeve 81 that is telescoped over the shaft 58, and towhich sleeve 81 the hour hand 88 is connected so that when the rotor 21is operated motion will be transmitted therefrom through the pinion gear45 to the gear 48, thence to the shaft 48, worm 58, worm gear 5|,vertical shaft 52, worm 51, worm gear 58, to the shaft 58, therebyoperating the minute hand 88. At the same time the gear 82 connected tothe shaft 59 will rotate the hour hand through the medium of theintermeshing train of gears 8283-85 and 88.

All of the above described mechanism is formed as a single unit and isadapted to be applied and removed as a unit. To that end the slots l8-|8and 28 are provided. The numeral 88 designates a suitablesupportingstructure which is provided with a plurality of laterally projectingposts or supports 18, preferably of a tubular construction, having slots1| in their'body portions to form yielding supports. In the ends of thetubular supports 18 are preferably inserted cushion devices 12,preferably in the form of rubber plugs having heads 13. The plugs areinserted into the tubular heads so that the shoulders 13 are spaced fromthe adjacent extremities of the tubular members to form recesses 14, andthe plugs are held in this position by means of suitable fasteningdevices 15, preferably in the form of pins passing through the slots 1|and through the body portion of the plugs.

The clock movement is placed in position by inserting the upper pair ofsupports 18 in the slots l8 and then positioning the recesses 28 overthe lower pair of supports 18, after which the entire movement may belowered so as to cause the slots l8 to receive the upper support 18. Theplate I8 is of a thickness to fit within the recess 14 formed betweenthe head 13 of the plug and the end of the support 18, as shown moreclearly in Figure 9.

It will therefore be manifest that the clock' movement will not only beremovably supported in position, but it will be cushioned with respectto the support 88.

Carried by the support 88 is a post or projection 18 to which one end ofa flat or leaf spring 11 is anchored, and connected to the spring is ahead 18 carrying laterally projecting pins 18 extending on oppositesides thereof. A pendulum 88 having a weight 8| may be adJustablycarried by one end thereof through the medium of an adjusting nut 82,the upper end of the pendulum being provided with an extending portionor member 83 secured thereto and which member 83 is bifurcated as at 84to provide spaced hooks 85 that are adapted to engage over the pins orprojections 18, the bifurcation 84 receiving the head 19. By thisconstruction it will be manifest that the pendulum will be mounted forswinging movement with respect to the projection or support 18.

Connected to the pendulum at any suitable point as'at 88, is a flatspring 81 and connected to the upper end of the spring is a head 88provided with a slot 88 therethrough and extending vertically withrespect thereto. This slot 09 may, if desired, be arranged adjacent anopening I! in the pendulum, for a purpose to be set forth.

Connected with the shai't ll to rotate therewith is a member II havingteeth or shoulders 02 in its periphery to form projections and pivotallymounted upon the member I of theclock movement and by one end as at 83ior free and easy swinging pivotal movement, is an arm 04 having afinger or shoulder ll adapted to co-operate with the teeth or shoulders82 onwthe member I. and these teeth orshoulders 02 together with thelinger ll of the am It are so arranged with respect to each other thatwhen the member 9| is rotated in the'direetionindicated by the arrows inFigures 3 and 8, the teeth or projections 92 will raise the end of thearm N about its pivot 03 and then allow the arm to drop against themember ti so as to produce a ticking sound. These shoulders orprojections 02 are so arranged that a ticking sound will be imparted bythe mechanism upon each beat of the pendulum ",thereby providing anaudible signal in the clock.

The pendulum 80 is swung backwardly and forwardly by the rotation of theshaft 0, and to that end there may be provided a crank, preferablyformed by means of a disc ll provided with a laterally projecting pin01. This pin is adapted to project into the slot or opening 8! in thehead ll of the spring I! and also into the opening OI in the pendulumll, so that when the shaft ll is rotated it will be manifest that thecrank formed by the disc 98 and pin II will oscillate the pendulumthrough the medium of the spring 01, and the pin I! will not strike thewalls of the opening so in the pendulum ll.

The weight ll of the pendulum is preferably comparatively light, as thelighter the weight the sooner the pendulum will come in step with thecrank throw., When the clock is started the pendulum will swing veryirregularly, but will soon adjust itself to get into step with themechanism. The spring a must be suiilciently flexible so as to allow themotor to run when the pendulum II and weight 8| are at rest.

It will therefore be manifest that after the clock mechanism has beenstarted, the rotary member 21 will not only be maintained in positionwith respect to the pull 23 of the pole pieces, but the operation of therotary member 21 will drive the shaft I and thereby swing the pendulumbackwardly and forwardly, and at the same time motion will betransmitted to the hour and minute hands. Furthermore, the pendulum willnot'only form a visua1 signai but will also provide an audible signaland will produce in a clock of this character the "ticking movement"which is very desirable.

To start the clock the shaft 4. is provided with i a socket or seat tl,access to which may behad through the dial II, and in the bottom of thesocket is provided a slot 0! adapted to receive the end of a startingtool. When the starting tool is inserted in the socket II the tool maybe operated by the operator, and this will start the rotor 21 intooperation.

Theflnger llonthearmllandtheshoulders or projections I! on the member llare so arrangedwithrespecttoeachotherthatthey will co-operate to form alocking means to prevent the operator from rotating the shaft 48 in thewrong direction when starting the clock In order to provide a meanswhereby the popular style spring driven clock mechanism now on themarket, can be imitated, it is necessary to provide a gear arrangementwhereby a slower or faster swing of the pendulum may be produced, and inthat vided on the shaft 48 which carriesthe element Ii of the tickproducing mechanism, a gear ill of any desired diameter, which isarranged on the outside of the plate or member it 'of-the-:-

clock movement. This gear I" meshes with a gear lili having a hub Hi2joumaled upon a suitable trunnion Hi3. To the hub I02 (see particularlyFigure is connected the member 86 which carries the pin 91 that entersthe slot It at the top of the spring 81. Obviously, in this instance theposition of the slot and head 88 with respect to the pendulum and springl'l must be correspondingly arranged.

It will be apparent that in order to have access to the clock mechanismit is not I to dismantle any of the parts exceptto remove the hands 60-and loosen the dial II. The entire mechanism may then be removed fromthe clock case, as a unit by detaching the plate or member it of themovement from the supports or projections II. Obviously the member Iiand projections or teeth 82 thereon may be of any desired configurationor number, suitable i'or the purpose and may be in the form of cams.

While the preferred forms of the invention have been herein shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that various changes may be'made inthe details of construction and in the combination and arrangement ofthe several parts, within the scope of the claims, without departingfrom the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is:-

1. In a synchronizing electric clock system, an oscillating pendulum,and means for producing an audible signal in timed relation with theoscillation of the pendulum, the said meansbeing adapted to be renderedinactive at will and while the remaining mechanism of the clock systemremains intact.

2. In a synchronizing electric clock system. an operating motorembodying a rotor, an oscillating pendulum, a rotatable cam deviceconnected with the rotor, and a member co-operating with the cam deviceand freely movable about a pivot to cause an audible signal in timedrelation with the oscillation of the pendulum, the said member beingadapted to be moved into an inactive position with respect to said camdevice to eliminate at will said audible signal.

8. In a synchronizing electric clock system, an operating motorembodying a rotor, an oscillating pendulum, a rotatable cam deviceconnected with the rotor, and a member cooperating with the cam deviceand freely movable about a pivot to cause an audible signal in timedrelation with the oscillation of the pendulum, the said cam device andsaid member co-operating to lock the rotor against rotation in the wrongdirection, said audible signal being adapted to be rendered inactive atwill while the remaining mechanism of the clock system remains intact.

4. In a synchronous clock system, an operating motor embodying a rotor,and means embodying co-operating elements, one of which is connectedwith the rotor, for causing an audible striking sound to simulate theticking of a clock, as the rotor is actuated, said elements adapted tobe rendered inactive, one with respect to the instance there may beother, to eliminate said audible signal at will.

5. In a synchronous clock system, an operating motor embodying a rotor,and means for causing an audible striking sound to simulate the tickingot a clock, as the rotor is actuated, the said means embodyingco-operating elements one of which is connected with the rotor and theother is fixed against bodily movement, one of said elements adapted tobe rendered inactive at will with respect'to the co-operating element toeliminate the audible signal, said elements also co-operating tomaintain the rotor against rotation in the wrong direction when therotor is started.

6. In a synchronous clock system, an operating motor embodying a rotor,and means embodying co-operating elements, one 0! which is connectedwith the rotor, for causing an audible striking sound to simulate theticking of a clock 7. In a time keeping device oi the class described, aconstantly rotatable element provided with one or more peripheralshoulders, and a 1 member separate therefrom and mounted for treemovement about a fixed pivot, adapted to engage and rest upon theperiphery of said element and eo-operating therewith to cause an audiblesignal simulating the ticking ot a clock. said member adapted to bemoved out 0! engagement with said element to eliminate at will the saidaudible signal.

8. In a time keepim device at the class described, a constantlyrotatable element provided with one or more peripheral shoulders, and amember separate therefrom and mounted for tree movement about a iixedpivot, adapted to engage and rest upon the periphery oi said element andco-operating to cause an audible signal simulating the ticking ofa'clock, said member adapted to be moved out of engagement with saidelement to eliminate at will the said audible signal, the said memberand element also co-opersting to maintain the said element againstretrograde movement.

WILLIAM J. VAN OBDEL. I

